Tigers third baseman Jaime Candelario reacts to striking out during the third inning of the Tigers' 5-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at Comerica Park. Cameron Pollack, Detroit Free Press

Twins center fielder Leonys Martin and right fielder Nicholas Castellanos run to field the ball during the Tigers' 5-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at Comerica Park. Cameron Pollack, Detroit Free Press

Tigers second baseman Niko Goodrum throws to Tigers first baseman John Hicks, not shown, during the fifth inning of the Tigers' 5-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at Comerica Park. Cameron Pollack, Detroit Free Press

Tigers second baseman Niko Goodrum strides into second after hitting a ground rule double in the sixth inning of the Tigers' 5-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at Comerica Park. Cameron Pollack, Detroit Free Press

Tigers second baseman Niko Goodrum strides into second after hitting a ground rule double in the sixth inning of the Tigers' 5-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at Comerica Park. Cameron Pollack, Detroit Free Press

Tigers first baseman John Hicks fields a groundout off Twins catcher Bobby Wilson during the seventh inning of the Tigers' 5-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at Comerica Park. Cameron Pollack, Detroit Free Press

Tigers second baseman Niko Goodrum high-fives his teammates after scoring during the eighth inning of the Tigers' 5-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at Comerica Park. Cameron Pollack, Detroit Free Press

Tigers left fielder Victor Reyes catches a flyout from Twins first baseman Logan Morrison during the ninth inning of the Tigers' 5-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at Comerica Park. Cameron Pollack, Detroit Free Press

Tigers left fielder Victor Reyes is hit with a baseball while diving back to first base during the fifth inning of the Tigers' 5-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at Comerica Park. Cameron Pollack, Detroit Free Press

Tigers left fielder Victor Reyes smiles in the dugout after scoring during the eighth inning of the Tigers' 5-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at Comerica Park. Cameron Pollack, Detroit Free Press

Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario celebrates the go-ahead run scoring during the eighth inning of the Tigers' 5-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at Comerica Park. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Detroit Tigers first baseman John Hicks accomplished a career first on Thursday: a major-league triple.

Leading off the bottom of the seventh inning of Detroit’s game against the Minnesota Twins, Hicks drove a 2-1 pitch into Comerica Park’s cavernous gap in right-center field.

Before the at-bat, Twins starter Lance Lynn had held the Tigers in check, pitching six scoreless innings.

“Early in the game, (Lynn) had beat me with a couple fastballs, so I went up to that at-bat being very conscious, ‘Hey, I want to catch the ball out in front,’” Hicks said. “He got behind, it was a fastball away, and I was able to catch it out in front and get behind it and drive it to right-center.”

Hicks joked that he felt like he was flying while running the basepaths. He said he went for the triple because he noticed the ball hadn’t been picked up by an outfielder as he was rounding second base.

The hit sparked a three-run rally, resulting in Detroit’s 3-1 win over Minnesota in yet another game that Hicks filled in for an injured Miguel Cabrera at first base.

With Cabrera out for the year, it’s a role that Hicks — whose regular position is catcher — will continue to play. Replacing a likely future Hall-of-Famer is impossible, but Hicks is taking a simple approach to the situation.

“Just go be the best version of myself that I can be,” Hicks said. “I can’t pretend to be Miguel, he’s one of the best players of all time.”

For now, it seems to be working. Hicks ranks third on the team, after third baseman Nicholas Castellanos and Cabrera, with a .296 batting average. He also has five home runs and 22 RBIs in 159 at-bats.

“He’s covering the field with the ball (and) not trying to do too much,” manager Ron Gardenhire said Thursday. “Shoots the ball the other way a couple times last night. He’s playing well at first base. He sees the opportunity.

“When somebody gets hurt, somebody needs to step up and pick him up. Hicks did that last time, and he’s doing it again. He likes to play baseball, he’s getting the opportunity and he’s trying to take advantage of it.”

Hicks is at least somewhat familiar with the situation. Last year, he filled in at first base when Cabrera was given days off. This season, Hicks has seen more time as Cabrera battled various injuries.

Traveling back and forth between Detroit and Triple-A Toledo last season increased Hicks’ confidence. So did making the team out of spring training this year.

But the consistent at-bats Hicks has received this year have had perhaps the most significant impact. Through the first month of the season, Hicks played in just eight of 27 games, totaling 28 at-bats.

In May, those numbers picked up. He played in 27 of 29 games — including 26 in a row — and took 102 at-bats. Hicks has played frequently in June as well, appearing in seven of the team’s last eight games.

“When you’re not in there every day, the first few pitches, the ball looks like it’s flying at you,” Hicks said. “And then you’re trying to catch up to heaters because you’re not used to seeing them, and then they start throwing off-speed stuff. You’re kind of caught in between when you’re not getting a lot of at-bats. When you are, you can kind of relax and get comfortable.”

Filling in for Cabrera is something Hicks may never be fully comfortable with. But the Tigers don’t need John Hicks to be Miguel Cabrera. They just need him to be John Hicks.

“Honestly, it’s just nice to be able to play,” Hicks said, “and I try to help this team win.”